Precision brush

ABSTRACT

A precision paint brush formed from an arcuate ferrule attached to a handle and carrying a number of filaments oriented into a complementary arch shape for accurate and efficient administration of liquids such as paint is provided. By creating an apex within the application surface as formed by the arched filaments, the brush produces a more focused application surface area, particularly useful in situations such as painting a wall in close proximity to the ceiling, as pressure by the user into the substrate compels the filaments to spread out without exceeding the defined apex area.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention herein pertains to a brush and particularly pertains to amodified brush for more precisely applying a fluid such as paint to asubstrate.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

Brushes made with natural and/or synthetic bristles are used for avariety of activities involving the application of various products andsubstances. Specially designed brushes may be employed where specificcontrol is needed during application of, for example, artistic materialsused in creating works of fine art. There are numerous cosmetic andartistic substances and materials provided in an array of forms designedfor application to various surfaces, such as the skin, as well as avariety of permeable and non-permeable surfaces such as paper, canvas,wood, ceramics, plastics, etc. Regardless of the form of a cosmetic/artmaterial, e.g., whether in liquid, semi-liquid or solid forms, a primaryobjective involves achieving application of the desired product(s) in aspecific amount, shape, at a particular location, etc. In particular,application of the product in a specific manner becomes critical when acertain effect is desired, for example when painting on a firstsubstrate without intending to paint on a second substrate (sometimesreferred to as “edging” or “cutting in”). Brushes having specializedstructure for facilitating certain applicator effects have beenintroduced. Such brushes may include pillared bristles for use with astencil mask as a fabric paintbrush or as an artist's paintbrush orangular tips to facilitate various artistic and coverage effects anddesigns. However, the issues with these otherwise “specialized” brushesis that they are often ineffective at painting larger, less confinedspaces with equal ease.

Thus, in view of the problems and disadvantages associated with priorart brushes, the present invention was conceived and one of itsobjectives is to provide a brush with an arcuate ferrule attached to ahandle.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a brush withan arcuate ferrule that receives a plurality of filaments defining thesame length.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide abrush with an arcuate ferrule that receives a plurality of filamentsdefining different lengths.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a brushwith an arcuate ferrule that receives a plurality of filaments andorients them in a configuration that defines an angular bias.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a brushwith an arcuate ferrule holding a plurality of filaments with respectivedistal ends that are blunt cut.

It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide abrush with an arcuate ferrule holding a plurality of filaments thatdefine one or more different lengths, producing an overall filamentpattern that is generally wedge shaped.

It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide abrush with an arcuate ferrule and a plurality of filaments oriented inan arch that is efficient to manufacture and simple to use.

It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide abrush with an arcuate handle and arcuate ferrule that receive aplurality of filaments and orients them in an orientation that definesan angularly biased wedge shape.

Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detaileddescription is set forth below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforesaid and other objectives are realized by providing a brush ofthe type typically used in painting interior or exterior walls thatseeks to improve application precision of a liquid to a substrate bydefining a ferrule with a significant arch or arcuate shape. Theapplication surface, usually defined by a plurality of filamentsattached to the ferrule and thus defines the same arcuate shape, has anapplication surface with a curve defining an apex. By creating an apexwithin the application surface, the brush produces a more focusedapplication surface area, particularly useful in situations such aspainting a wall in close proximity to the ceiling, as pressure by theuser into the substrate compels the filaments to spread out withoutexceeding the defined apex area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an elevated perspective view of a precision brush proximatea substrate;

FIG. 2 pictures an elevated front plan view of the brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 pictures an elevated rear plan view of the brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts an elevated side view of the brush of FIG. 1, theopposite side view being identical thereto;

FIG. 5 demonstrates an elevated top plan view of the brush of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 6 demonstrates an elevated bottom plan view of the brush of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND OPERATION OF THEINVENTION

For a better understanding of the invention and its operation, turningnow to the drawings, FIGS. 1-6 display various views of preferredprecision brush 10, formed from handle 11 mounted to arcuate ferrule 12that carries one or more filaments 13 which define application surface14 (FIG. 4). As would be understood, handle 11 is affixed to ferrule 12,for example with adhesive, mechanical fasteners (not shown), or thelike. Ferrule 12 may be formed from any appropriate material as is knownin the art, but preferred ferrule 12 is formed from wood or a metalmaterial in the nature of a band or crimp about one terminal end ofhandle 11. Similarly, handle 11 may define any length and may be formedfrom any appropriate material as is known in the art, but preferredhandle 11 is formed from wood or a polymeric material. The shape ofhandle 11 is not intended to be limited, but an ergonomicallyadvantageous design as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 6 is preferred.

Ferrule 12 preferably defines an arcuate, convex shape instead of therectangular or ovular shape common in the prior art. The end of handle11 oriented proximate ferrule 12 may define a complimentary arcuateshape to that of ferrule 12 such as seen in FIG. 6, but for ease ofmanufacturing and assembly, embodiments of handle 11 may also define aconventional (i.e. circular or rectangular) shape consistent with known,non-arcuate ferrule shapes. Ferrule 12 may define any length consistentwith the desired size of brush 10, but preferably defines a widthbetween three inches and four and a half inches (7.62 cm-11.43 cm). Theconvex nature of ferrule 12 is preferably described as a portion of acircle (i.e. an arch) derived from a circle defining nine and a halfinches (24.13 cm) in diameter, and is best shown in FIG. 6.

As demonstrated throughout FIGS. 1-6, filaments 13 each define agenerally cylindrical shape and may be formed from any material,although preferred embodiments of filaments 13 are formed from nylon,natural bristle, or polymer and/or synthetic blends. By virtue ofattachment to arcuate ferrule 12, one or more filaments 13 combine todefine a complementary arcuate shape (i.e. substantially the same asthat of ferrule 12), preferably approximately five degrees (5°) or lessrelative to the center of the arch defined by filaments 13, positioningthe filaments at the perimeter slightly lower relative to the horizonthan the filaments in the middle. Filaments 13 are preferably blunt cut(that is to say, vertical at the distal end) at the distal terminal endsor “tips” to facilitate even transfer of a given liquid to a substratebut alternative embodiments of filaments 13 may define an angular biasat a terminal end distal to ferrule 12. Alternatively, or in addition,filaments 13 may be oriented such that a grouping of filaments 13 definea length longer than one or more other groups of filaments 13, producingan overall bristle shape which defines a somewhat wedge shape. Therespective collections of filaments 13 define an angular bias betweentwenty and ninety degrees (20°-90°) and preferably defines an anglebetween sixty and eighty degrees (60θ-80°). In one or more alternateembodiments, various types of filaments 13 may be utilized in formingbrush 10 such as bristles formed from natural hairs or synthetic fibers,for example polyester, rayon, nylon, or the like and may include split,frayed, biased, pointed or other style tips. During assembly of thefilaments to the handle (although not shown) the filaments may be of thesame length, whereby the handle and/or ferrule rather than have a flattop surface for attachment of the filaments, could be tapered to definean angle such as seen by the angle of application surface 14 to allowfilaments 13 when affixed thereto, although being of the same length, todefine the same complementary shape of application surface 14 as seen inFIGS. 1, 2, and 4. Attaching the bristles to complement the curved shapeof the handle and/or ferrule provides for a brush with greater precisionand visibility as the point of control is reduced to a smaller area suchthat the brush spreads a more precise, even layer of paint to thedesired surface when in use, and should not be considered merely adesign choice.

In use, brush 10 is assembled with one or more filaments 13 affixed toarcuate ferrule 12 that is carried by handle 11. The somewhat C shapedefined by ferrule 12 produces a collection of filaments 13 that areoriented lower at the outboard, distal edges and higher at an inboard,proximal midpoint referred to as the apex (i.e. about the center of thecurve cooperatively defined by ferrule 12 and filaments 13).Additionally, filaments 13 may be oriented such that one grouping offilaments defines a longer length than one or more other groupings offilaments 13, as a group defining an angular bias that would generallyrelate to a parallel relationship relative to a substrate when brush 10is held by a user (not shown). The arcuate shape defined by ferrule 12and filaments 13 bestow upon brush 10 its ability to preciselydistribute liquid to a substrate. Specifically, the liquid applicationarea proximate the apex of the arch produces an area of unexpectedlysuperior control relative to the prior art, whereby the user maysuccessfully spread a liquid such as paint along a linear barrier, suchas for example along a window or door casing, in a controlled, evenmanner. This control is maintained even as filaments 13 are compressed,and thus spread out, when pressed into a substrate as would beunderstood during use of brush 10.

Although not shown in the figures, a porous, non-filament liquidapplicator configured with a complementary shape to that of arcuateferrule 12 and defining the same characteristics as the collection offilaments 13 described above may serve the same purpose as the presentinvention. As such, a non-filament applicator, for example formed fromfoam, sponge, or the like should be construed as within the scope of theinstant disclosure.

The illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatorypurposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A brush comprising an arcuate ferrule defining a width ofbetween three inches and four and a half inches and arching in a uniformand symmetrical geometry from a first side of the ferrule to a second,opposing side of the ferrule and affixed to a handle, the handledefining a terminal end proximate to and abutting with the ferrule withthe terminal end defining a complimentary arcuate shape relative to theferrule, the ferrule carrying a plurality of filaments with eachfilament defining a proximal end that has been blunt cut, the pluralityof filaments defining a convex arcuate shape complimentary to theferrule and divided into two or more groups, the first group offilaments defining a first length, the second group of filamentsdefining a second length, the second length less than that of the firstlength forming an application surface with a wedge shape defining acontinuously angular bias, whereby the plurality of filaments define anarch shape complementary to the arcuate ferrule with portions of thefilaments oriented approximately five degrees lower proximate theferrule first and second sides relative to a portion of the filamentsproximal an apex, and whereby the angular bias of the wedge shape isdefined by an angle between sixty and eighty degrees.
 2. The brush ofclaim 1, whereby the handle is formed from wood.
 3. The brush of claim1, whereby the handle is formed from a polymer material.
 4. The brush ofclaim 1, whereby the ferrule is formed from metal.
 5. The brush of claim1, whereby the ferrule is formed from a polymer material.